Hawaii Couple Indicted in Tax Fraud Scheme

A federal grand jury in Honolulu, Hawaii, returned an indictment today charging a Hawaii husband and wife with conspiring to defraud the United States and filing a false tax return. The wife was also charged with four counts of money laundering.

According to the indictment, from 2015 to 2019, Beverly Braumuller-Hawver and Scott F. Hawver, both of Ewa Beach, along with another individual, allegedly conspired to defraud the United States by filing a false 2014 amended individual income tax return claiming a refund of $188,239 to which they were not entitled. After the IRS issued the refund, Braumuller-Hawver allegedly laundered the fraudulently obtained tax refund through a series of financial transactions using banks located in the District of Hawaii.

Braumuller-Hawver is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, filing a false tax return, and four counts of money laundering. Hawver is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and filing a false tax return. The defendants are scheduled for their initial court appearances on June 16, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for Hawaii.

If convicted, Braumuller-Hawver faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering. The Hawvers each face a maximum sentence of three years for filing a false tax return and a maximum sentence of five years for conspiracy to defraud the United States. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department's Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Judith A. Price for the District of Hawaii made the announcement.

The IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Sarah A. Kiewlicz and Valerie G. Preiss of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg P. Yates of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Hawaii are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.